return fire
noun
: the firing of a weapon to counter a shooter's shot
The suspect started shooting and was wounded by the return fire of the police.
Examples of return fire in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Davis said the shooter fired at officers, prompting them to return fire.
—
Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
The officers were not injured and did not return fire.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
The trooper did not return fire.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
If Venezuela and its region instead spiral into chaos and suffering, Trump will merely look like a bully, a president who cowers when facing the mighty — in Moscow or Beijing, say — but bombs those who can’t return fire, whether in Nigeria, Yemen or Venezuela.
—Andreas Kluth, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
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Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
The officers were not injured and did not return fire.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
The trooper did not return fire.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
If Venezuela and its region instead spiral into chaos and suffering, Trump will merely look like a bully, a president who cowers when facing the mighty — in Moscow or Beijing, say — but bombs those who can’t return fire, whether in Nigeria, Yemen or Venezuela.
—Andreas Kluth, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for return fire
Cite this Entry
“Return fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/return%20fire. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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